Education Sessions
Here at Blackpool Zoo we offer a wide range of educational sessions to accompany your visit to the zoo. Sessions cater for nursery children through to Higher Education. They provide a unique way to teach pupils and there is no additional cost to book a session with us.
Sessions are limited to one session for every 35 students in your group. We advise early booking to avoid dissappointment, as our sessions are very popular with visiting groups.
Below you will see the range of topics that we offer. If you would like us to create a session that better suits your needs then please do not hesitate to contact the education department and we will be happy to discuss this further.
Please contact the education team by phone, on 01253 830 805, to discuss the ideal session for your group.
Pre and post-visit activities are available upon request. All sessions can be tailored to suit a wide variety of groups and special educational needs. We also have a member of staff who is BSL post level 2 and available on request. Wherever possible all sessions include animal handling and the use of our extensive range of animal artefacts.
Animal handling (1/2 hour):
This is a popular session with all key stages which includes the handling of a variety of exotic animals including; stick insects, cockroaches, snails, lizards and snakes.
Nursery (age 3-5)
Monkeying around (1/2 hour):
An interactive session where pupils learn about the sounds and movements animals make.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 1b.
Interactive Story Time (1/2 hour):
This session tells a short story taking pupils on an imaginary journey through the tropical rainforest. Whilst on this journey pupils meet a variety of animals and have the opportunity to touch them. The session incorporates live animals and our extensive range of animal artefacts.
Key Stage 1 (age 4-7)
Colour and pattern (1/2 hour):
An interactive session which explores the variety of colours and patterns that are present in nature and the various ways in which animals make use of them.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5b.
Lifecycles (1/2 hour):
This session explores the differences between living and non-living things before focusing on the different lifecycles found within the animal kingdom.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 1a, 1c, 2b.
Key Stage 2 (age 7-11)
Endangered species (1 hour):
This session examines the threats facing animals in their natural habitats, and what we can do to make a difference, making full use of our extensive range of animal artefacts.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5a, 5b, 5c
Habitats (1 hour):
Pupils learn about four major habitat types found on planet earth. They will find out information concerning the distribution and climatic conditions within each environment. Pupils will also learn which animals are found within the different habitats and how they are adapted to life there. The session makes use of live animals and our extensive range of artefacts to give pupils the opportunity to learn from a firsthand perspective.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5b, 5c.
Lifecycles (1 hour):
This session explores the differences between living and non-living things before focusing on the different lifecycles found within the animal kingdom.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5d, 5e.
Petcare (1 hour):This session will introduce children to a basic responsibilities required of them as pet owners for three types of pets, including and an invertebrate, a reptile and a small mammal.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 1a, 1cSenses (1 hour):
Pupils learn about the various ways in which organisms perceive their external environment. Various games are used so as to compare our own senses to those of different animals. Live animals and artefacts are also used so as to give pupils the opportunity to observe animal senses first hand.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5b, 5c.
Teeth and diet (1 hour):
This session focuses on how different teeth are suited to different diets. Pupils compare and contrast the dentition of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores by examining skulls and live animals. In addition to this we look at essential life processes and define whether objects are alive or not alive. The session finishes by looking at the components of a healthy diet comparing animals and humans.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 2a, 2b.
Nocturnal animals (1 hour):
This session examines the various ways in which animals are adapted to life in the dark. Aspects covered include a variety of case studies focusing on the diversity of senses used by nocturnal animals.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5b, 5c.Key stage 3 and 4 (age 11+)
Adaptation (1 hour):
Pupils learn how different animals are suited to where they live. The session looks at differences between males and females, young and adults and seasonal changes. Live animals and artefacts are used so as to show pupils these features from a firsthand perspective.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 4a, 5c.
Endangered species (1 hour):
This session examines the threats facing animals in their natural habitats, making full use of our extensive range of animal artefacts.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5a, 5d.
Feeding and digestion (1 hour):
This session looks at the major food groups and the components of a balanced diet. We compare and contrast differences between the diet of animals and that of humans. Pupils explore differences in the anatomy of animal digestive systems. The session closes with an overview of feeding relationships in the wild, focussing on the construction of food chains. Live animals and artefacts are used throughout.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 2a.
Dinosaurs (1 hour):This session provides a basic overview of dinosaurs across the Mesozoic era in which they ruled the world. Although we can’t provide any dinosaur handling we do use a wide range of live animals and artefacts to provide a unique perspective on these terrible lizards!This is great start to a new topic providing lots of opportunities to extend various parts of the session further.
Recycling and sustainability (1 hour):
This session looks at waste production before discussing the concept of sustainable development using real world examples.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5a, 5b, 5c.
Further education
We offer a wide range of sessions for students in further education such as;
- Zoo management and licensing
- Science in the workplace
- Zoos and conservation
- Primate evolution
- Classification and genetics
- Animal behaviour
- Travel, tourism and marketing
Zoo tours
Big animal safari (1 hour):
A tour which follows the largest animals found in Blackpool Zoo looking at where they live, what they eat and other interesting facts.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 1a, 1c, 2b, 2e, 5b, 5c.
Children’s zoo feed (1/2 hour, Age 5+):
Children will have a chance to feed our farm animals whilst learning how to care for them.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 2e.
Rainforest tour (1 hour):
This tour begins with an introduction to the rainforest discussing distribution, structure and inhabitants. The tour ends in Amazonia, a purpose built exhibit aiming to create the conditions of life in the rainforest.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 1c, 5b, 5c. Geography, knowledge skills and understanding; 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 4a, 5a, 5b.
Senses tour (1 hour):
Pupils learn about the various ways in which organisms perceive their external environment. The tour differs from the class based session as pupils are taken out into the zoo in order to experience animal senses in action. Various activities are carried out at each exhibit in order to highlight ways in which animals use their senses and how these compare with our own.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; 5b, 5c.
Craft Sessions are available at an additional cost of £1 per child.
Recycled collage (1 hour):
This session explores waste production and the importance of recycling. Pupils then make a collage using recycled materials.
National Curriculum links: Sc2 Life Processes and living things; living things in their environment.
